fluctuate

[ fluhk-choo-eyt ]

verb (used without object)

, fluc·tu·at·ed, fluc·tu·at·ing.

1. to change continually; shift back and forth; vary irregularly:

   The price of gold fluctuated wildly last month.

2. to move back and forth in waves.

   Synonyms: oscillate

verb (used with object)

, fluc·tu·at·ed, fluc·tu·at·ing.

1. to cause to fluctuate.

fluctuate

/ ˈflʌktjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to change or cause to change position constantly; be or make unstable; waver or vary
2. intr to rise and fall like a wave; undulate

Other Words From

• non·fluctu·ating adjective
• un·fluctu·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluctuate¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin fluctuātus “undulated,” past participle of fluctuāre “to flow,” equivalent to fluctu(s) “a flowing” (derivative of fluere “to flow”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluctuate¹

C17: from Latin fluctuāre , from fluctus a wave, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

See waver ¹.

Example Sentences

The California Voter Foundation is monitoring the congressional and legislative contests through the Close County Transparency Project, which aims to give a clear picture of how margins in undecided contests fluctuate as more ballots are counted.

From Los Angeles Times

"The investments themselves may fluctuate, but we're talking long-term," said Johnson.

From Salon

"Taxes, inflation and markets will fluctuate," said Van Zutphen.

From Salon

It can also help to remind yourself that even negative emotions such as anxiety and anger will fluctuate over time.

From Los Angeles Times

"Markets should move based on fundamentals but occasionally they fluctuate excessively because of speculation, and they don't reflect fundamentals which don't change overnight," he says.

From BBC

Related Words

• oscillate
• seesaw
• vary
• veer
• waver